Do you need a class A or Class B license to drive a bobtail truck?

Question

Do you need a class A or Class B license to drive a bobtail truck?

Answer 1

You only need a class C to drive a van like that.

(edit)

It depends on what truck you're talking about.

Answer 2

Bobtail you would need a Class A

Answer 3

It has always been my understanding that a "bobtail" truck is a straight truck, or a tractor minus the trailer.

This being the case, you would only need a Class "B" CDL to drive the truck (or tractor) and only if it was registered with a GVW of 26,001 pounds or greater.  A Class "A" CDL lets you pull a trailer of 10,000 pounds or greater.  If it's a straight truck with a GVW of 26,000 pounds or less, you would not need a CDL license to drive it.... as long as you did not haul hazmat....  in the US anyhow.

Hope this helps...

Edit:

The following information was taken from this link:

http://www.dmv.org/wa-washington/cdl-faq...

When do I need a commercial driver's license (CDL)?

If you want to drive the following vehicle types, you need a CDL:

Vehicles weighing 26,001 pounds or more.

Vehicles hauling trailers weighing 10,001 pounds or more with a combined weight of 26,001 pounds or higher.

Vehicles transporting 16 or more people, including you as the driver.

Vehicles carrying placarded amounts of hazardous materials.

Answer 4

You only need a class B. Most of the guys in our shop just have class B because we just  road test the tractor without the trailer.

Answer 5

By bobtail I think he means like a stakebed or a small box type truck, not a tractor with out the trailer.

Class B if it weights less then 26,000

Class A if it weights more then 26,001

Answer 6

A bob tail is still considered a semi truck and you need a class A